Viking looks to expand into America

Viking River Cruises will be looking at putting river ships on the Mississippi River in America.

The line, which dominates the European river market and will also have 16 930-guest ocean liners in service by 2027, originally announced plans to enter the U.S river market in 2015.

But after a presentation made in front of the Dubuque, Iowa City Council in September, officials are now scouting for ports along the Mississippi for river guests.

Viking indicated ships may start service as soon as 2021.

“We have a brand and existing customer base who are river cruisers and our past passengers are asking for the Mississippi River,” said David Simmons of Viking Cruise Lines in his presentation to the Dubuque, Iowa, City Council.

By 2027, Viking said it hopes to carry over 100,000 guests on the Mississippi and will have six vessels.

Deployment plans include round-trip New Orleans sailings to Memphis and St Louis to St Paul – all of which will be seven-day voyages.

The five-deck ships will be long ships and staterooms will offer balcony accommodations. There will also be an infinity pool while the bow of the ship will have ramps to land passengers.

The vessels will be built by American shipyard Edison Chouest, an American company, as laws require river vessels to be built in the US. The ships will then be charted by Viking.

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